How to Start the Process

The first step is usually to speak with your local authority adult social care team.

If your loved one has eligible care and support needs, the local authority can complete or update a care needs assessment. This assessment helps identify what support may be required and whether supported living or residential care may be appropriate.

If your loved one already has a social worker, care manager, transition worker or commissioner involved, they may be able to support the referral process and discuss suitable options with you.

What Information May Be Needed?

To help us understand whether we may be able to provide suitable support, it is useful to have as much information as possible about the person’s needs, wishes and current circumstances.

This may include:

• the person’s age and current living situation
• diagnosis or support needs
• current care and support arrangements
• level of support required, including whether daytime, sleep-in, waking night or 24-hour support may be needed
• communication needs
• mobility, health or medication needs
• behaviours that may challenge, risks or safeguarding considerations
• what the person enjoys and what is important to them
• family involvement and wider support networks
• whether funding or a local authority assessment is already in place

Do not worry if you do not have all of this information when you first contact us. We can talk through the situation with you and explain what may be needed next.

Supported Living and Housing

In supported living, the care and housing arrangements are usually separate.

Independent Lifestyles provides the care and support package. Where appropriate, we may work alongside specialist housing providers who manage the accommodation and tenancy arrangements.

This means that housing, tenancy and benefits matters are dealt with separately from the care and support we provide.

What Happens After an Enquiry?

Once we receive an enquiry, we will usually ask for further information so we can understand the person’s needs and whether we may be able to offer a suitable service.

This may involve:

• an initial conversation with the family, social worker or commissioner
• reviewing care and support information
• considering whether there is a suitable service or placement available
• assessing whether we can safely and appropriately meet the person’s needs
• discussing next steps with the relevant professionals

Where we are not the right service, we will always try to be clear and helpful about this.